Red Rocket Ale - Bear Republic Brewing Co.

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue II:

Originally a Scottish-style Red Ale, the Northwest hopping quickly took over, and now we see this beer as an American Red Ale. Mildly chilled, hazy mahogany color. Dense latte-looking foam does not want to drop out of the picture. Rich, dark caramel malt nose with hints of raisins and a balance of piney herbal hop. The carbonation is imbedded very deep from the bottle conditioning which produces a sublime smoothness. Flavors of caramel, cocoa powder and Portuguese sweet bread from the malt comes to mind. Hop bitterness comes in with a mild tingling sharpness and a long trail of woody earthy flavor. Mildly warming alcohol. A dryness sets in middle to end with toasted biscuit maltiness and rough herbal hop flavors.

Scottish Red gone wild. OK, so it is hybrid style which makes it an American Red by default. Regardless of what the style is it's one hell of a flavor-packed brew. High level of maltiness is curbed by a substantial hoppiness and smoothed out by the bottle conditioning. American Real Ale at its best here.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 19:11:06 | More by BeerAdvocate

Jason

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz brown bomber with no freshness date.

Appearance: Thick bubbly sea foam head, has no problem sticking all over the glass. The brazen reddish brown colour glows in the light.

Smell: Leafy hop with a soft underbelly of citrus, toasted malt and vague alcohol as well.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Ultra smooth from the moderate level of carbonation and creamy full body. A thick sheeting of soft bitterness holds strong and lays down more flavour than anything else. Slight aleish fruitiness. The sweet maltiness is there but the hops stay on top, flashes of toasted malt and a lingering caramel grab the palates attention. Lots of sweet hop oil on the tongue with more pronounced toasted malt in the finish.

Notes: I love big-ass red ales, lots of flavour and character and it even packs a punch at 6.8% abv. This one went great with some Chinese Style Spare Ribs and Crab Rangoon.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2003 01:54:59 | More by Jason

jakecattleco

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.3%

05-21-2013 17:53:03 | More by jakecattleco

jbeervt

Vermont

4/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 16:37:22 | More by jbeervt

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-18-2013 16:29:02 | More by ejimhof

JoeLacy

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2%

05-18-2013 15:23:53 | More by JoeLacy

verge

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-16-2013 21:46:44 | More by verge

ToriBug13

California

3.58/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bear Republic Ricardo's Red Rocket Ale: Healdsburg, CA

ABV 6.8%, poured into a Sam Adams glass

-Appearance: Dark amber/brown, thick head, excellent head retention.

-Aroma: Sweet malt, faint piney hops.

-Taste and Mouthfeel: Coffee, _hint_ of caramel. Medium bodied, good carbonation. Definitely tasted the piney hops, but they didn't overwhelm the malt. Definitely a malt- forward beer. Though I'm not a major fan of coffee, it was a manageable and balanced coffee flavor. Got a little sweeter as it warmed, which cut the coffee well. I might have scored this a little lower because of that coffee, but I'd also like to think I was more unbiased than that.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 23:13:06 | More by ToriBug13

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-14-2013 01:06:13 | More by aty11b

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-13-2013 14:19:09 | More by KStark

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%

05-13-2013 00:22:15 | More by rolltide8425

rydev24

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-12-2013 22:37:19 | More by rydev24

BigOldOaf

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-12-2013 00:49:35 | More by BigOldOaf

Conceptuallogic

New York

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-10-2013 17:15:13 | More by Conceptuallogic

krisbee

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-10-2013 03:24:00 | More by krisbee

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -8.1%

05-08-2013 20:10:57 | More by waddellc2

Erice78

Florida

4/5  rDev -2%

05-07-2013 22:18:36 | More by Erice78

Beerswag

California

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-07-2013 07:22:58 | More by Beerswag

CDCNAM

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

05-07-2013 03:19:01 | More by CDCNAM

bobhits

Kentucky

2.94/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.75

Red rocket falls into that poor mix of sweet and hoppy where the mix is too caramel and bread without a distinct a well made hop character to mix. The end result is too common, over done, and not exciting to start with.

This is a good looking beer, well carbonated, good lacing, nice body. It smells like a red/scotch ale without too much hop character but without the overly sweet notes either.

Scotch ale malt, crackers, bread, floral hops, and caramel, maybe even a hint of toffee.

I wouldn't call this easy to drink nor hard to. It's nice enough I guess.

In the end this is ok to good beer. I think it has some strong points but I just don't get the high ratings. It isn't a perfect example of a style (an awful reason to score a beer highly imo but I get it) or unique and special, or you know....just an amazing beer (a good reason to score highly).

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 21:57:13 | More by bobhits

Jtrigonis

California

4.75/5  rDev +16.4%

05-04-2013 02:30:36 | More by Jtrigonis

MarvinSnyder

West Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-03-2013 18:38:59 | More by MarvinSnyder

His_Royal_Hoppiness

United Kingdom (England)

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-01-2013 15:44:55 | More by His_Royal_Hoppiness

cre83

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

05-01-2013 03:33:55 | More by cre83

PeterOrlando92

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2%

05-01-2013 02:27:11 | More by PeterOrlando92